Prosecutors on Monday demanded three years in prison for independent lawmaker Hyun Young-hee for bribing a former ruling party official in return for her nomination ahead of the April general elections.

Hyun was indicted in September on suspicion of giving 50 million won ($45,766) to Cho Ki-moon, who worked at Saenuri Party's branch office in the southern port city of Busan, in return for securing her a spot on the proportional representation ticket ahead of the elections, according to the prosecutors.

She was expelled from the ruling party in August as the criminal investigation into the corruption scandal dealt a blow to the party ahead of the crucial presidential election in December.

In a hearing held Monday, the prosecution demanded the three-year prison term for Hyun along with 5 million won in fines and 48 million won in asset forfeiture, stressing that she "deserves stern punishment for undermining fairness, the key value in the nomination process."

The prosecutors also sought a one-year prison term for Yoon Young-seok, a sitting legislator of the party. He was indicted September for pledging to give 300 million won to Cho in return for his help on the course of the nomination for the April elections.

Both Hyun and Yoon have denied the charges against them.

The court is scheduled to issue a verdict for both cases on Nov. 23.

(Yonhap News)